Faraway Immortal

At the same time, Wang Zi stood at the entrance of the shop; the exterior of the shop looked old and damaged, with peeling paint and a creaky wooden sign swaying gently in the breeze, its faded letters barely legible.

"From the market entrance, walk straight and take a right; there will be an inn on the left, where the shop should be opposite the inn," he murmured the lines from the novel one by one, recalling the vivid imagery painted in his mind.

"Then this is the exact same shop," he thought to himself as he stepped over the threshold, the worn wooden door creaking in protest as he pushed it open.

Once inside, however, the demeanor of the shop, which appeared so dilapidated from the outside, changed drastically. The interior was a stark contrast to what he had expected; instead of a dusty, forgotten space, he was greeted by a warm and inviting atmosphere. The walls were adorned with vibrant paintings that sparkled as if they had just been completed, bathed in the soft glow of hanging lanterns. The scent of fresh paint mingled with the faint aroma of incense, creating an almost ethereal ambiance.

Wang Zi slowly walked towards the counter. He knocked twice on the polished wooden surface, the sound echoing lightly through the serene shop. He waited for a while, but no one came to greet him.

"Tch," he clicked his tongue in mild annoyance, yet he decided it was worth the wait.

As he stood there, his eyes began to wander, exploring the various paintings that adorned the walls. Each piece told a story, depicting scenes of vibrant festivals, serene landscapes, and mythical beasts that seemed to leap from the canvas. He felt goosebumps creeping up his arms as he marveled at the intricate details of the artwork, the brush strokes breathing life into each figure.

Suddenly, his gaze was drawn to one particular painting that stood out amongst the collection. It was a towering piece, six feet tall, capturing the likeness of a woman. The composition was daring, with a hint of sensuality as her cleavage peeked from the elegant garment she wore. But it was her face that truly captivated him; her eyes sparkled with an otherworldly allure, and for a moment, he felt as if she were looking directly into his soul. Time seemed to freeze as he stood entranced, his whole body immobilized, his focus solely on her ethereal beauty.

Just as he was about to lose himself completely in the painting, a sharp knock at the counter jolted him back to reality. His dazed eyes regained their focus as he turned to see an elderly man standing before him, a gentle smile gracing his weathered face.

"Hello?" Wang Zi managed to say as he stepped closer to the counter, shaking off the remnants of his reverie.

"How can I help?" the old man asked nonchalantly, his voice warm and inviting.

"Well, I was looking for a painting to present for my grandfather's birthday. Can you show me your best collection?" Wang Zi replied, a smile breaking across his face.

The old man nodded sagely, disappearing into a room behind the counter. Moments later, he returned, arms laden with a multitude of painting scrolls, each one carefully rolled and tied with delicate threads. Wang Zi eagerly took the scrolls one by one, unfurling them to examine the artistry within.

'It's not that...' Wang Zi pondered, feeling that none of the paintings quite captured the essence he was searching for. Looking up at the old man, he asked, "Is there any other collection available?"

"Wait for a minute," the old man replied, disappearing once more into the depths of the shop.

After what felt like an eternity, the old man returned, struggling slightly with a massive black chest that seemed to absorb the light around it. It was an imposing sight, adorned with no designs save for the sheer depth of its color.

'There it is,' Wang Zi thought, his eyes lighting up with excitement. He leaned forward, eager to see what was inside as the old man carefully opened the chest, revealing a limited selection of only ten scrolls.

Wang Zi picked up one scroll and opened it wide, revealing a breathtaking painting of a woman seated gracefully atop a lotus flower, a majestic crane spreading its wings beside her, the colors vivid and alive.

"I like it," he said decisively, pushing a few gold coins towards the old man, who looked momentarily stunned.

The old man's eyes widened at the sight of the gold coins, and he quickly pushed them back towards Wang Zi. "Esteemed customer, but this scroll only costs one gold coin, so you don't have to give me this many," he insisted, his voice laced with genuine humility.

Wang Zi shook his head vehemently, a smirk playing on his lips as he replied, "No, like you decided the value of your painting, I also decided the value of your painting, so this much gold will be the correct amount for this magnificent art." He pushed the coins forward with conviction.

The old man, recognizing the sincerity in Wang Zi's eyes, said nothing more as he accepted the coins with a grateful nod. Wang Zi carefully placed the scroll into his dimensional pouch. He cupped his hands toward the old man in a gesture of respect.

"Well then, I will return to buy again," he said, preparing to exit the shop.

Suddenly, the old man called out, "Wait a second!" Wang Zi turned back.

The old man reached into a drawer behind the counter and pulled out a small wooden box, followed by a delicate, worn scroll that looked as if it had been cherished for decades.

"Here, take it," he said, extending the scroll toward Wang Zi.

Wang Zi's eyes widened in surprise as he accepted the scroll gingerly. To his astonishment, it was not a painting but rather a piece of poetry, its verses beautifully inscribed yet frayed at the edges.

"How much—" he began, but the old man cut him off, shaking his head.

"No, it's free; take it," he insisted, his voice firm yet kind.

"But this—" Wang Zi stuttered, feeling a mix of gratitude and confusion.

"As I said before, it's free," the old man reiterated, turning to tend to something else behind the counter.

"Thank you," Wang Zi said earnestly, cupping his hands once more in appreciation before making his way out of the shop.

As he stepped back onto the street, a devilish smile spread across his face, his heart racing with excitement as he murmured, "All according to the plan." He pulled out the notepad he had carried with him, striking through the words he had written earlier.

"Crystal Necklace: Check."

"Poetry Scroll: Check."

With two critical items secured from his checklist, he felt a surge of triumph. Earlier that morning, before meeting Yang Xin, he had meticulously written down all the contents of the novel he could remember in an empty book, mapping out his strategy for the day. Each step had been calculated, and the timing with Yang Xin had worked out perfectly, guiding him to obtain the crucial items he needed for his future plans.

"Then, with this, a quarter portion of the plan has succeeded. All I have to do now is raise my cultivation to survive the upcoming events," Wang Zi thought as he strode confidently toward the Profound Alchemy Sect.

The guards at the entrance did not stop him, recognizing the robe he wore as that of the Moon Sword Sect, one of the main contributors to the Profound Alchemy Sect. This established relationship allowed many from the Moon Sword Sect to enter freely, and the guards nodded respectfully as he passed through the gates.

Once inside the Profound Alchemy Sect, Wang Zi scanned the area, searching for Yang Xin among the bustling activity of disciples and elders.

"Where is she?" he wondered, feeling a flicker of impatience as he moved through the throngs of people.

Spotting an elder conversing with a group of disciples, he approached them, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect.

"I greet senior," he said, bowing slightly.

The elder looked up, recognition dawning on her face. "You're the person who came with the Supreme Elder's granddaughter, right?" she asked.

Nodding, Wang Zi replied, "Yes, senior."

"Here, she left this behind these boxes," the elder said, handing him a set of pill boxes that had been tucked away in her dimensional pouch.

Confused, Wang Zi examined the boxes carefully. "She left ?" he asked, puzzled by the sudden turn of events.

The elder was about to explain the situation that had unfolded before her, but just then, one of the guards hurriedly approached her, drawing her attention away from Wang Zi.

"Well then, I have something important to attend to," she said, excusing herself and leaving Wang Zi to ponder the implications of what had just occurred.